According to a fundamental agreement struck by the governments of Japan and the United States, two Japanese astronauts will travel to the moon as part of NASA’s lunar exploration mission, it was revealed on Sunday.

First human landing on the moon since the Apollo mission of the 1960s and 1970s is the goal of the U.S.-led Artemis program. The two nations have been working out specifics like how many Japanese astronauts will set foot on the lunar surface. Japanese astronauts were originally scheduled to be a part of the crew of the Gateway space station, which will circle the moon.

Studies suggesting ice beneath the moon’s surface are contributing to the growing perception of the moon as a crucial stepping stone for human activity in space and ultimate landing on Mars. Japan hopes to become the second nation after the United States to put astronauts on the moon in the later part of the 2020s. There have been twelve American moonwalkers.

The Japanese crew members are anticipated to take part in a landing in 2028 or later. The Artemis program seeks to deploy people to the lunar surface in September 2026. However, these deadlines could be altered if NASA’s spacecraft development is delayed or for other reasons.

With an eye toward manned lunar missions, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) selected Makoto Suwa and Ayu Yoneda as two new astronaut candidates in February 2023. Both are presently undergoing training, and in November they should receive their full astronaut certification.

When they meet on April 10, American President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to reaffirm their countries’ space cooperation. At that point, a lunar activities agreement is anticipated to be signed by Japan’s minister of science and technology, Masahito Moriyama, and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

It is anticipated that this article would discuss the utilization of the Lunar Cruiser, a lunar exploration vehicle that Toyota Motor and other companies are developing.